Letter 1

I. Ad Vitalem episcopum Ravennensem To Vitalis, Bishop of Ravenna Priest of the Lord, living by your merits into eternity, shepherd who holds the joys of Christ's flock in your care — when ancient tradition chose to call you Vitalis [the name means "full of life"], it already knew you had earned eternal day. You are a bishop resplendent with apostolic virtue, and you have built this holy church dedicated to Saint Andrew [the Apostle — brother of Peter, patron of Ravenna's cathedral]. How rightly you have taken your seat in the Lord's court, you through whom a house worthy of God has been built! You received your high station from God, and now you build high stations in return — giving back honor to the one who gave you worthy gifts. The great church gleams, perfected in solid gold and precious metal, where day continues without night, where the place itself invites God in its perpetual light, and draws him to enter gently into a dwelling that loves him. You give the people a place where they can always worship the Lord, and in making them find forgiveness, you become their way. Your grace, your spirit, your goodness, the love of your people — your rank and your devotion — have made you their father. Your prosperity proves itself: it has brought distinguished men to fulfill your prayers. Here a duke shines in arms, there a prefect in law — the very men whose presence makes festivals complete. And lest honor should ever fail you, God has enriched your congregation, seeing that your heart desired exactly this. He has fulfilled the mystery of faith for one who asked it. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord himself brings what he longs for! May you celebrate many festivals by God's gift, and may you flourish, building temples for God.

I Ad Vitalem episcopum Ravennensem Antistes domini, meritis in saecula vivens, gaudia qui Christi de grege pastor habes: cum te Vitalem voluit vocitare vetustas, noverat aeternum te meruisse diem; dignus apostolica praefulgens mente sacerdos, qui sacer Andreae tam pia templa locas. quam bene pro meritis domini consedit in aula, per quem digna deo est aedificata domus! sumpsisti a domino culmen cui culmina condis: qui tibi digna dedit reddis honore vicem. emicat aula potens, solido perfecta metallo, quo sine nocte manet continuata dies, invitat locus ipse deum sub luce perenni, gressibus ut placidis intret amando lares. qui loca das populis. dominum quo semper adorent, ut capiant veniam te facis esse viam. gratia mens animus bonitas dilectio plebis et gradus et pietas te dedit esse patrem. prosperitas se vestra probat, quae gaudia supplens intulit egregios ad tua vota viros. dux nitet hinc armis. praefectus legibus illinc: venerunt per quos crescere festa solent. ne tibi desit honor, populum deus auxit opimum, qui vidit sensum hoc voluisse tuum. mysterium fidei conplevit vota petenti: felix cui dominus quae cupis ipsa vehit! plurima divino celebres sollemnia dono atque dei florens templa locando colas.